E3 2006: Ace Combat X Hands-On

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We head back into the cockpit.

By Juan Castro

Would-be pilots lined up in front of Namco/Bandai's Ace Combat X booth today, to get a taste of sky-based action on the PSP. The build on display looked and played a lot better than the one Namco showed off during its pre-E3 event. The textures looked much sharper, for one, and the framerate showed substantial improvement. Ace Combat X now looks and plays far closer to a genuine, portable version of the console classic.

It looked good initially, as is clearly evident from IGN's first preview, but now it's just that much better. Certain details have yet to be ironed out, including bonus material specifics, but regardless it's definitively coming along just fine.

Here's a recap: Players use the analog stick to bank and roll their aircraft, while the two shoulder buttons control the throttle. This scheme lends the game that arcade-like feel that fans have come to expect. It should also allow newcomers to get in, suit up and take to the skies without much trouble. The square button switches weapons, while the "X" button fires machineguns. Finally, pressing the circle button will fire missiles. This control layout, specifically, should help Ace Combat pros find their footing quickly.

Details, however, remain somewhat scarce since the game's nowhere near finished. But developers have said that players can expect more than 20 missions. According to developers, players will dictate the flow of missions depending on structures destroyed (or not destroyed) and other factors.

When it comes to mission variety, the game should include the usual list of escort, seek-and-destroy and defend missions. But it wouldn't be an Ace Combat game without a few surprises, so expect that, too. Players will fly a mixture of real-world and theoretical aircraft, just as in previous games, with a majority needing to be unlocked. Missiles and special weapons, too, will need to be purchased. Cooler still, there's even the chance to tune aircraft with unlocked parts.